We're Modern! Aren't We?
Presenter:  Aaron Bartell

In a world where people change technology as often as they change their underwear it can be frustrating to know whether we, as IBM i professionals, are on the right track.  Do we have a modern machine?  Can RPG accomplish what my business leaders and customers are asking for?  What of the many technologies IBM is pushing at me should I pursue?  Should I jump ship?
 
In the past decade I have been continually evaluating the value of various technologies on a variety of platforms and have come to find that with IBM i we have quite the technology stack to take us into the next decade.  In this session we will discuss many things dealing with modernization including the current craze of "cloud computing" and whether or not to adopt it, service oriented architectures (SOA), social media, what we already have in our tool belts as IBM i RPG programmers, and how to take our applications and programming to the next level.

Social Media: How to Step Into It, Without “Stepping Into It”
Presenter: Cheryl Eaton

Social media can be the key to gaining tremendous positive word of mouth for you and your company.  However, it can also contain terrible potholes that can trip you up and destroy those positive feelings in a way that can be very hard to dig back out.  This is especially true with employees posting and tweeting out to the market.  We'll discuss the opportunities of social media, as well as some of the challenges and how to avoid them.

Uncork the Genius in Yourself and Your Group
Presenter: Cheryl Eaton

The success of organizations, teams, individuals, all depend upon innovation. But many of our habits of work, thinking, and behaving block the genius and creativity that leads to breakthroughs.  Everyone can access this type of genius.  We’ll explore some tips and tools you can use immediately yourself and with your teams.

Hitch Your Wagon to a Star: Tying Your Success to the Success of Your Employees, and Vice Versa
Presenter: Cheryl Eaton

All too often, teams within an organization are working at cross-purposes. This is also true of teams and the individuals who form them.  You’ll go farther faster if all are in alignment in terms of objectives, strategies, and – yes – even passions. We’ll talk about how to make this happen.

Brand You: Presentation Skills
Presenter: Cheryl Eaton

Your ideas and your data won’t sell themselves. You sell them. It’s all about you… Learn what people are actually paying attention to when you talk and present (hint: it’s not what you’re saying…), what they might remember (another hint: it’s not the information…), and concrete skills you can use to have the impact your desire.

Complaint Management Learning to Love Complaints
Presenter: Steve Kenneally

In this session we will learn the reality that as long as clients (users) are talking to us, they are giving us the opportunity to make things right and continue the relationship.

Levels of Service: What Clients Expect From Us
Presenter: Steve Kenneally

In today's world, clients (users) tend to expect everything.  In this session, we will learn that there are three distinct service levels that most IT organizations offer.  The key is knowing the difference and having your entire staff on board with the service level offerings.

Service Styles
Presenter: Steve Kenneally

Knowing the tendencies and strengths of our staff better positions us to match skills to the situation and client.  Knowing how our teams fit into these three styles and also what fourth style to avoid is key to this session.

Getting to Know Your Clients
Presenter: Steve Kenneally

Empathy is a key to fostering effective business partner relationship.  How do we get to know our clients' (users’) needs and thoughts so that they believe that we really do care about their business?